Summer flew by in a whirl.  The girls went to the water park so much that they actually asked NOT to go by the end of August.  (didn't even know that was possible)  I wish we'd have installed little computers on the girls bikes, because I'm sure that they covered over 1,000 miles just on our little street alone.  They slept in each other's rooms most nights.  Played dolls, made me tons of drawings for my walls, and learned how to get along with each other.

I have termed this the "summer of love" because of how well they got along.  I will remember it fondly because I've learned that kids are rarely the same from one month to the next.

We topped the summer off with a redesign of the girls' rooms just before school started.  They got to choose new bed spreads, curtains, wall color, and some decorations.  I think their favorite parts were the stripes on the walls, the Chinese paper lanterns, and the bean bags.  They were so incredibly happy with the new rooms that they stayed in them for about 2 days straight.  I called them "catalog kids"...you know the ones in the Pottery Barn catalog that are sitting all nicely on their neatly made beds just reading some innocent book and smiling neatly?  Probably some nice small dog curled up in the corner too?  Yeah, we had those kids for 2 days.  It was wonderful.

Both girls started school this year.  Holly is in kindergarten and Anna in 2nd grade.  I did really well on Holly's first day of school and wasn't crying at all...until I saw Anna's teacher from last year walk by.  Senora Michel was so special for us...I just couldn't help but cry.  Such a sap, huh?

Holly has already learned a lot of spanish in just 2 weeks...she knows all her colors, how to count to 17, and several basic commands.  Let's just hope she loses that gringa accent soon though.  She sounds pretty funny in spanish.

Anna is super excited about hanging out with her peer group.  We had new neighbors move in behind our house about a month ago.  Last night the little girl climbed to the top of the fence and popped her head over to talk to Anna.  They both spent about an hour talking while perched on top of the fence.  It really took me back to my happy kid memories.  I love times like that.

Ayesha can pass any academic test you give her.  She has a brain that will be the envy of all the universities she applies to this year.  Unlike most people with similar descriptions, she can also pass a personality test.  She is funny, kind, and likes a social life.  She lives across the street from me and I've really enjoyed getting to know her for the last 5 years.  I can safely say that my only disappointment with her has been her lack of interest in babysitting.  LOL!  I am routing for Stanford as her school of choice.  Far enough that she gets to experience a real life away from home, but close enough that she will still come back and visit us all fairly regularly.